Does Your Spa Speak the Right Language? by Lisa Olson Busy, but not too loud. Elegant, yet affordable. Relaxing but invigorating. It might be difficult, when thinking of your spa’s environment, to find a happy medium. Finding that perfect environment, one that speaks to all clientele – returning clients and newcomers to the spa experience, might be a daunting task. It’s possible you’ve seen your ideal workplace…imagined the ambiance of the spa that you’ll call home, talked about it with fellow workmates. When it comes to the perfect spa environment, every spa strives to be different, and offer the perfect retreat for clients and staff alike. Read More

by Amby Longhofer As a former spa owner, I know how nerve wracking it can be to add a new service to your menu. There is a variety of issues to consider – from staffing to cost to space requirements (if a machine is involved). The first step is to create a list of questions to ask yourself in order to make the best decision possible. Some of these questions include: What are my clients asking for? What service would they most respond to? What is the cost involved with incorporating this service into my salon? Will I need to hire additional staff or pay to train my own? Do my competitors offer this service? If so, how is the service performing? Read More

by Lina Kennedy Don’t be shy; take the whole bowl! I think it’s absolutely amazing that something like sugar can play such havoc on our health when ingested, yet when used externally it can be so wonderful in helping to create order in our outer most skin cells’ appearance. You might be thinking that “creating order” is somewhat of a peculiar way to describe skin, but in reality the skin’s structure can certainly expose a less than orderly skin care regimen. I get so frustrated and very excited all in the same moment whenever I take a look at someone’s skin and its most noticeable characteristics are patchy skin cells, sallow appearance, and worst of all ingrown hairs. My frustration comes from knowing that this skin condition is completely preventable, while the excitement comes from sharing that knowledge in hopes that the individual will execute a better skin care regime. I’ve been involved with the beauty industry for nearly 16 years, and to this day I still get dumbfounded whenever I see disorderly kept skin. Read More

By Patricia Heitz As we are all aware, the skin care business is booming! The portion of the skin care market that is especially hot is skin repair and rejuvenation. The baby boomers are aging and shelling out billions of dollars a year for services and products that help them restore, repair, and rejuvenate themselves to a more youthful appearance. Skin care is the fastest growing segment within the category of cosmetics today People aged 50+ represent over one third of our population, Healing Arts Guide – MJL Associates -May, 2005 Specialized Skin Treatments As a primary service of repair, skin peels or chemical peels are a leading source of revenue for salons/spas that understand how to customize for optimum results. As the term “peels” can be a little scary to the consumer, many salons/spas are changing their menus to call them rejuvenation or repair treatments to soften the perception. Different peel products are specifically made for specific skin issues. In order to choose what peels suits what skin type you need to first determine what you are treating. Know your objectives. The most common objectives in ANY Skin Treatment is one or more of the following: 1. Elimination of Read More

by Margaret Ancira So much emphasis in our industry and society is placed on rejuvenating the face. After all, it is our calling card. But what about the rest of the body? Our hands and lips are the most active parts of our bodies and along with the chest and neck areas, the most exposed to the sun and other environmental aggressors. Yet these areas of skin don’t receive near as much time and attention as the face does. Fortunately, new, non-invasive rejuvenating treatments targeting these often-neglected areas are emerging in growing numbers and presenting skin care professionals with new opportunities to expand their service menus and their bottom line. The latest ingredients and new treatment protocols available for facial rejuvenation are now being incorporated into treatments for these often overlooked body parts. Let’s take a closer look at how the lips, hands, and décolleté can benefit from what’s new on the market. Read More